China ships in disputed waters: Japan Coast Guard
Iran Press TV
Fri Aug 2, 2013 9:17AM GMT
Japan's Coast Guard says four Chinese ships have entered its territorial waters off the disputed islands in the East China Sea.
According to a statement by the coast guard, the ships entered the waters near the Senkaku Islands shortly between 9:30 a.m. and 9:40 a.m. local time on Friday.
The uninhabited islands are controlled by Japan but claimed and known as Diaoyu by China.
The maneuver marks the latest in a series of what Japan calls incursions by the Chinese government, which regularly deploys ships and airplanes in the East China Sea region.
On July 24, Japan dispatched fighter jets to thwart a Chinese military plane that flew near Okinawa prefecture's main island and the smaller Miyako Island in southern Japan.
In April, Japan's Defense Ministry said it had sent fighter jets to the disputed areas - in response to flights by Chinese aircraft - 306 times during a year span ending on March 2013.
In February, Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said a Chinese frigate had directed its weapon-targeting radar at a Japanese vessel in the international waters of the East China Sea on January 30. The Chinese Defense Ministry denied the allegations.
Tensions heightened between the two sides after Japan signed a deal on September 11, 2012 to buy three of the islands from their private Japanese owner in line with plans to nationalize the archipelago.
GMA/HSN
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